Method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network and wireless mesh network

Abstract

A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network, wherein the network ( 1 ) includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) and wherein at least two of the multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) function as wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) being connected to a wired infrastructure network ( 5 ) via wired and/or wireless links. With respect to an efficient routing of intra-mesh traffic that avoids congestions at the mesh gateways ( 3 ) as far as possible, the method includes the steps of performing a discovery mechanism for the wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) to find and/or identify each other, establishing virtual wireless mesh links between the wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) via the wired infrastructure network ( 5 ), determining the characteristics of the virtual wireless mesh links, and announcing the characteristics to the wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ). Further, a corresponding wireless mesh network with routing decision support is disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network ( 1 ) that includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) and wherein at least two of said multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) function as wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) being connected to a wired infrastructure network ( 5 ) via wired and/or wireless links, comprising the steps of:
 performing a discovery mechanism for said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) to find and/or identify each other; 
 establishing virtual wireless mesh links between said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) via said wired infrastructure network ( 5 ); 
 determining characteristics of said virtual wireless mesh links; and 
 announcing said characteristics to said wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ), 
 wherein said discovery mechanism includes the step of said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) sending registrations to a rendezvous node ( 7 ), and 
 wherein said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) query said rendezvous node ( 7 ) at predefined intervals to learn about the presence of other wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ). 
 
     
     
       2. A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network ( 1 ) that includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) and wherein at least two of said multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) function as wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) being connected to a wired infrastructure network ( 5 ) via wired and/or wireless links, comprising the steps of:
 performing a discovery mechanism for said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) to find and/or identify each other; 
 establishing virtual wireless mesh links between said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) via said wired infrastructure network ( 5 ); 
 determining characteristics of said virtual wireless mesh links; and 
 announcing said characteristics to said wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ), 
 wherein said discovery mechanism includes the step of said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) sending registrations to a rendezvous node ( 7 ), 
 wherein said rendezvous node ( 7 ) is chosen from all network nodes in the wireless mesh network and/or the infrastructure network, and 
 wherein a network node that, without being designated as said rendezvous node ( 7 ), receives a registration from a wireless mesh gateway and sends back a redirection to that wireless mesh gateway indicating said rendezvous node ( 7 ). 
 
     
     
       3. A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network ( 1 ) that includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) and wherein at least two of said multitude of wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ) function as wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) being connected to a wired infrastructure network ( 5 ) via wired and/or wireless links, comprising the steps of:
 performing a discovery mechanism for said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) to find and/or identify each other; 
 establishing virtual wireless mesh links between said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) via said wired infrastructure network ( 5 ); 
 determining characteristics of said virtual wireless mesh links; and 
 announcing said characteristics to said wireless mesh nodes ( 2 ), 
 wherein said discovery mechanism includes the step of said wireless mesh gateways ( 3 ) announcing their presence in said wireless mesh network at predefined intervals, wherein said announcements are propagated in said wireless mesh network.